1996 "Breakthrough Of The Year" From Science

Washington, DC (11 December 1996) -- In the 20 December 1996 issue
of Science, the editors will announce their picks for the top ten
research breakthroughs of 1996. Every December Science highlights
scientific advances from the past 12 months that have made the
greatest impact on science and society. This year's report also
offers the editors' forecast for what will be the hottest
scientific issues in 1997.

For 1996, the top "Breakthrough of the Year" is: New Weapons
Against HIV. For years scientists have been frustrated in their
efforts to combat AIDS. In 1996 new therapeutics, such as protease
inhibitors, and basic research advances, such as the finding that
natural polypeptide molecules called chemokines can suppress HIV,
offered new weapons against the virus, and raised the possibility
that HIV infection may one day become a chronic rather than fatal
disease.

The editors also chose to honor nine runner-up innovations for
1996:

The Origins of Life: Researchers pushed to new heights our
understanding of the origin of life, from the tantalizing
possibility of life on Mars to the confirmation that there are
three great domains of life, rather than the five kingdoms as
classically taught.

Online Publishing: Almost every scholarly publication in the
world
jumped online this year, furthering the revolution in how
scientists gather and disseminate information.

Prion Diseases: Previously blamed for the bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE) outbreak in British cows, this year prions
(short for "protein infective agent") were suspected ofjumping the
species barrier and causing a new kind of Creutzfeldt-Jakob
disease, a crippling neurodegenerative disease in humans. In the
midst of the fear, scientists debated whether proteins themselves
can, in fact, transmit diseases, and whether they exist in
different strains.

Lasers: Lasers are the workhorses of modern science, used in
everything from surgery to surveying. In 1996, new laser materials
and designs lit up the field on several fronts -- advances that
could make lasers even more versatile and economical.

Complete Genetic Sequence of Yeast: A major milestone for gene
sequencing was passed in 1996: the first full sequence of a
eukaryote (organisms, such as humans, whose cells have a
membrane-bound nucleus). The lucky eukaryote? Baker's yeast,
Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The achievement will help scientists
unravel the basic genetic toolkit for such common eukaryotic
functions as cell division.

T Cell Structure: T cells that attack virus-infected cells are
among the immune system's most potent weapons. This year, two
groups of researchers coaxed T cells to give up their last
structural secret by obtaining the first three-dimensional image of
the T cell receptors in action -- bound to their target molecules.
This kind of detailed structural knowledge should pave the way to
new therapeutic drug designs.

Earth's Inner Core: For a long time scientists thought that
Earth's
inner core was static, but in 1996, after 30 years of
data-gathering, researchers learned it actually spins faster
than the rest of the planet. The work changes how we understand our
planetary home.

Embryonic Positioning: In a developing animal embryo, each cell
learns its exact location relative to other cells in order to give
rise to the appropriate organ, tissue or nerve. This fundamental
"biological positioning system" was further elucidated in 1996 by
researchers who identified new molecules that carry and detect
positional signals. Besides unmasking a process basic to life,
these findings could lead to better treatment for cancers that
arise when such signals go haywire.

Apoptosis Signaling: Every cell contains a built-in "death
wish"
that is triggered when the good of the organism demands it. This
year, researchers made great headway in decoding this genetic
self-destruct program, adding not only to basic science but also to
our understanding of diseases in which apoptosis goes awry.

In a sidebar, Science editors propose six areas of scientific
research that promise exciting results in 1997: cancer research;
the search for matter's most fundamental particles; programs that
breach computer security codes; synthetic carbohydrates that may
lead to new drugs; quantum computers; and high-energy x-rays that
will enable scientists to peer with more accuracy at the processes
of life. Another sidebar offers a scorecard on how last year's
Science forecast fared.

Formerly called "The Molecule of the Year," this year's
"Breakthrough of the Year" is the eighth since Science inaugurated
the feature in 1989. The editors of Science honor those
advances that break new scientific ground, unite different
scientific fields, and offer great potential benefits to society.
This year, for the first time, the editors invited visitors to the
magazine's Web site to nominate candidates for "Breakthrough of the
Year." The ultimate decision, however, was made by the editors, led
by Science's editor-in-chief, Floyd E. Bloom, M.D., of Scripps
Research Institute in La Jolla, California.

An embargoed copy of the "Breakthrough of the Year" report will be
available on Friday, 13 December. Please contact Karissa Sparks by
phone (202-326-6414), fax (202-789-0455) or email
(ksparks@aaas.org).

A copy of the report can be obtained by going to Science Online. The cover of the 20
December 1996
Science can be downloaded from an anonymous ftp site
(science.aaas.org) as of Thursday,
12 December. (If you're going
through Netscape, go to ftp://science.aaas.org/). Log in as
"anonymous"; give your email address as the password; then go to
the pub directory to find the file called "BOY Cover.tif".
If you have any questions about this, call Karissa Sparks.

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